AFTER 4 DECADES OF UNOPPOSED ELECTIONS

STO. TOMAS — After four decades of no opposition to the Villars, a graduating councilor filed his certificate of candidacy on Oct. 11 to challenge the incumbent mayor in next year’s elections.

Councilor Ely Ramos, who is on his final term, will challenge Mayor Timoteo “Dick” Villar III who is set to file his re-election bid for his third term next week.

Over the years, the Villars were unopposed since martial law when former Secretary Antonio Villar Jr. became mayor for more than 20 years and his wife, former mayor Vivien Villar who served for six terms, and until 2016 when incumbent Mayor Dick Villar was reelected unopposed as well.

Villar, unfazed by the looming opposition, said having an opponent is part of living in a democracy, similar to the freedom of expression for the media.

Reports said Ramos and his team arrived at the Commission on Elections municipal office on board a van and was escorted by policemen in their patrol car from nearby Rosales town.

Villar said his opponent’s police escorts were upon the order of someone from Binalonan town.  Ramos’ residence is only about 20 meters away from the town hall.

Asked about the presence of many policemen at the vicinity of the town hall, Villar said it was not the first time that an augmentation force from the police came here for the filing of COC and during the election. “All towns are like that,” Villar said.

Villar added everyone should feel free to campaign in their town.

Ramos will run with Councilor Benjamin Oculto as his vice mayor and with only six out of eight slots for councilor.

Villar will run again with his perennial tandem, Vice Mayor Wilfredo Pescador with two re-electionist councilors and six other neophyte candidates. (Four councilors in Villar’s ticket who ran unopposed in 2016 are now in their last term).

Councilors Ramos, Oculto and Gerry Marquez who ran unopposed under the ticket of Villar, will lead the opposition in 2019 election.

Earlier, Ramos was shot but was not hit in his residence on Oct. 4 by unidentified suspects.

It may be recalled that this town holds the distinction in Pangasinan for having all its incumbent elected municipal officials, from the mayor to the councilors.

During the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, all the candidates in the 10 barangays also ran without opponents.

After the Edsa People Power Revolution in 1986, Antonio Villar was the only mayor during Martial Law who remained in his post under President Corazon Aquino’s term in a hold-over capacity.

Incumbent Mayor  Villar is the nephew of couple Antonio and Vivien Villar. (PhilStar Wire Service)

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